It has been a rip-roaring day of racing on day two of the 2023 Cheltenham Festival, with Energumene and Paul Townend stealing the show by winning the Champion Chase.
The day kicked off with a victory for Townend, as he guided Impaire Et Passe to win the Ballymore Novices' Hurdle. Race two saw the luck of the Irish continue, after The Real Whacker secured a dramatic photo-finish victory in the Brown Advisory Novices' Chase.
The Brits finally got themselves going on day two as the Skelton team secured the win in the Coral Cup, as Langer Dan crossed the line first.
The main event of the day then came at 3:30pm, after the remarkable Energumene romped home in the Queen Mother Champion Chase, as market rival Edwardstone struggled with the ground. The Irish dominance continued, as Delta Work defended his Cross Country Chase.
The day was then capped off after Maskada went on to win the Grand Annual in the penultimate race of the day, before it was finished with A Dream To Share winning the Champion Bumper.
Harry Cobden says winning Cheltenham ride on Il Ridoto did not deserve ban
To follow all the action make sure to stay with us here at Mirror Sport and follow the blog below.
And there we have it, another day of remarkable racing at the Cheltenham Festival. Luckily we are back tomorrow for day three, and you can follow all the action right here in Mirror Sport.
Thank you very much for tunining in, and catch you on Wednesday to do it all over again!
The big race of the week will come on Friday in the form of Gold Cup. There are a whole host of big names running, including favourite Galopin Des Champs, last year's champion A Plus Tard and the impressive Bravemansgame.
Stuck on who to pick? Check out Mirror Sport's Gold Cup selector to help you decide.
Delta Work ridden by jockey Keith Donoghue clear a fence on their way to winning the Glenfarclas Chase on day two of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse. Picture date: Wednesday March 15, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story RACING Cheltenham. Photo credit should read: David Davies/PA Wire for the Jockey Club. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial Use only, commercial use is subject to prior permission from The Jockey Club/Cheltenham Racecourse.It was Energumene who stole the show on Wednesday at Cheltenham, having breezed to victory in Queen Mother Champion Hurdle for the second time in as many years.
Defending champion Energumene is backed to impress in the Champion Chase (PA)Here is a round-up of all of today's seven winners.
Ballymore Novices' Hurdle - Impaire Et Passe
Brown Advisory Novices' Chase - The Real Whacker
Coral Cup - Langer Dan
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Queen Mother Champion Chase - Delta Work
Grand Annual Chase - Maskada
Champion Bumper - A Dream To Share
18-years-old a Cheltenham Festival winner. Take a bow John Gleeson!
Here is your top three finishers from this afternoon's Champion Bumper
1st - A Dream To Share
2nd - Fact To File
3rd - Captain Teague
Its a debut Cheltenham Festival win for John Gleeson, as A Dream To Share wins the Champion Bumper for JP McManus!
And for the final time today we are off and racing in the Champion Bumper!
Henry de Bromhead has given an update on Mares' champ and fan favourite Honeysuckle following yesterday's famous win. "She is doing really well," de Bromhead told Racing TV. "She looked a little bit in season actually!
For one final time on day two, here is a run through on the runners and riders in the finale race.
A Dream To Share, Mr J L Gleeson
Fact To File, Mr P W Mullins
It's For Me, Paul Townend
Fun Fun Fun, Daryl Jacob
Encanto Bruno, Sean Bowen
Better Days Ahead, Mr J J Codd
Western Diego, Rachael Blackmore
Chapeau De Soleil, Brian Hayes
Queens Gamble, Jonathan Burke
Loughglynn, Michael O'Sullivan
Westport Cove, Danny Mullins
Favour And Fortune, Tom Cannon
Captain Teague, Harry Cobden
Fascile Mode, Mr Charlie Mullins
No Time To Wait, Davy Russell
Samui, Sam Ewing
King Of Kingsfield, Jordan Gainford
Chosen Witness, Sean O'Keeffe
D Art D Art, B J Cooper
Lecky Watson, Jack Foley
Fiercely Proud, Luca Morgan
Captain Cody, Miss Josephine Townend
Beachcomber, Jonjo O'Neill Jr
Shinji, Aidan Coleman
Harry Redknapp's On The Lash was pulled up in this afternoon's Cross Country Chase, and the former Spurs manager could not put his finger on the reason behind the off performance
Post race, he said: "It was disappointing today. He didn't run his race but I don't know why. The other week when he came here he won and ran well, but today he was never going."
We are not done there! As the sky darkens and the rain continues to pour we have once race left on day two. Stay tuned for the Champion Bumper.
Here is the top three past the winning post in the Grand Annual.
1st - Maskada
2nd Dinoblue
3rd - Global Citizen
After yesterday's success with Honeysuckle, Henry de Bromhead cheered home another winner in Maskada!
CHELTENHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 14: Trainer Henry de Bromhead celebrates after Rachael Blackmore rides Honeysuckle to win The Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle during day one of the Cheltenham Festival 2023 at Cheltenham Racecourse on March 14, 2023 in Cheltenham, England. (Photo by Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images)Falls, hamperings, mistakes. It was a dramatic finish in the Grand Annual, as Maskada charged up the Cheltenham hill.
It was an eventful one, and it is Maskada that secures the Grand Annual Chase!
We are back underway, as the Grand Annual gets going!
There is not just one Real Whacker in the house at Cheltenham today, with England cricket star Johnny Bairstow in attendace. Reflecting on a remarkable day of racing on Tuesday, he said: " “It was absolutely incredible for two reasons. You saw an absolute superstar in Constitution Hill and then the fairytale finish for Honeysuckle.
"I was fortunate enough to be here when Sprinter Sacre won a few years back and I saw the ovation that horse got. Unfortunately I wasn’t here yesterday, but I heard the ovation back at home sat on the sofa in the warm."
A look at the runners and riders in the Grand Annual Chase.
Final Orders, Keith Donoghue
Andy Dufresne, Mark Walsh
Dinoblue, L P Dempsey
Third Time Lucki, Harry Skelton
Coeur Sublime, Ben Harvey
Elixir De Nutz, Brendan Powell
Dads Lad, Brian Hayes
Global Citizen, Luca Morgan
Thyme White, Harry Cobden
Epson Du Houx, Rachael Blackmore
Sizing Pottsie, Jack Tudor
Call Me Lyreen, Sam Ewing
Midnight Run, B J Cooper
Before Midnight, Sam Twiston-Davies
Maskada, Darragh O'keeffe
The Last Day, Adam Wedge
Malystic, Danny McMenamin
Battleoverdoyen, Jordan Gainford
Dancing On My Own, J J Slevin
A Wave Of The Sea, Simon Torrens
ITV Racing's coverage may have come to an end but ours hasn't! Stay tuned for the Grand Annual Chase, which is a little over 15 minutes away.
Here is how the top three was settled or the Cross Country.
1st - Delta Work
2nd - Galvin
3rd - Franco De Port
12 months after seeing off Tiger Roll, Delta Work once again defeats a stablemate, this time in Galvin.
Delta Work goes back-to-back by seeing off Galvin to secure the Cross Country Chase!
10 left to jump in the Cross Country as Snow Leopardess leads the way. Favourite Delta Work is waiting in the wings in third.
The Cross Country Chase is underway!
Here comes the defending champion!
The Cross Country Chase is up next, and with the rain still falling it is set to be a battle! Here is a look at the runners and riders.
Delta Work, Keith Donoghue
Galvin, Davy Russell
Franco De Port, Mr P W Mullins
Gin On Lime, Rachael Blackmore
Back On The Lash, Sean Bowen
Snow Leopardess, Aidan Coleman
Deise Aba, Micheal Nolan
Plan Of Attack, Darragh O'keeffe
Diesel D'Allier, Harry Bannister
Foxy Jacks, Ricky Doyle
Mortal, Jody McGarvey
Easysland, Jonjo O'Neill Jr
Lieutenant Rocco, Nick Scholfield
Francky Du Berlais, Ben Jones
Hardline, Shane Fitzgerald
Coup De Pinceau, Mr George Hiscock
It was a dissapointing showing for Edwardstone, who failed to land his imprint on the race. Post-race, jockey Tom Cannon revealed the softer ground proved a problem for the second favourite.
